Every two years, the Oak Bay Figure Skating Club puts on a large scale ice show. This year the club pays tribute to Michael Jackson and his music with The Way you Make Me Feel.
Jamie McGrigor, coach and director of skating, said they started off doing an 1980s theme and Jackson came up more than once.
“We wondered if we could do a whole show and the answer was ‘yes’,” said McGrigor. “I don’t remember the 80s … but it’s coming back.”
The show features 98 skaters from 68 families.
McGrigor is joined by coaches Adrian Matei and Daniela Keller, as well as senior skater Mackenzie Wavryk, showcased in Thriller as Queen of the Zombies. As an an accomplished floor dancer she also helped with some of the choreography.
Dozens of volunteers make it all come together at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre including graffiti artists while others donated time, paint and muscle.
“It will be set up in five or six hours and on Saturday night it will be out in 40 minutes,” said McGrigor.
There are two performances Saturday, April 29, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available through any club member or the clubs’s Facebook page, Oak Bay Figure Skating Club.
There are 635 seats in the arena, but it gets a bit tight at 500, said McGrigor.
“Don’t’ be shy, we can always squeeze one more in,” he said. “The thrill is watching the little ones.”